按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was listened to with respect by the scattered white settlers in his vicinity。
He would make a political speech through an interpreter； but would
occasionally break loose in his broken English； and wind up with an
invitation to drink in the following words： 〃Chentimen； you Pemicans
（Republicans）； come out and drink！〃
From 1855 to 1864 Hole…in…the…Day was a well…known figure in
Minnesota； and scarcely less so in Washington； for he visited the capital
quite often on tribal affairs。 As I have said before； he was an unusually
handsome man； and was not unresponsive to flattery and the attentions of
women。 At the time of this incident he was perhaps thirty…five years old；
but looked younger。 He had called upon the President and was on his
way back to his hotel； when he happened to pass the Treasury building just
as the clerks were leaving for the day。 He was immediately surrounded
by an inquisitive throng。 Among them was a handsome young woman
who asked through the interpreter if the chief would consent to an
interview about his people； to aid her in a paper she had promised to
prepare。
Hole…in…the…Day replied： 〃If the beautiful lady is willing to risk calling
on the chief at his hotel； her request will be granted。〃 The lady went； and
the result was so sudden and strong an attachment that both forgot all
racial biases and differences of language and custom。 She followed him
as far as Minneapolis； and there the chief advised her to remain； for he
feared the jealousy of some of his many wives。 She died there； soon after
giving birth to a son； who was brought up by a family named Woodbury；
and some fifteen years ago I met the young man in Washington and was
taken by him to call upon certain of his mother's relatives。
The ascendancy of Hole…in…the…Day was not gained entirely through
the consent of his people； but largely by government favor； therefore there
was strong suppressed resentment among his associate chiefs； and the Red
Lake and Leech Lake bands in fact never acknowledged him as their head；
while they suspected him of making treaties which involved some of their
land。 He was in personal danger from this source； and his life was twice
attempted； but； though wounded； in each case he recovered。 His
popularity with Indian agents and officers lasted till the Republicans came
105
… Page 106…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
into power in the sixties and there was a new deal。 The chief no longer
received the favors and tips to which he was accustomed； in fact he was in
want of luxuries； and worse still； his pride was hurt by neglect。 The new
party had promised Christian treatment to the Indians； but it appeared that
they were greater grafters than their predecessors； and unlike them kept
everything for themselves； allowing no perquisites to any Indian chief。
In his indignation at this treatment； Hole…in…the…Day began exposing
the frauds on his people； and so at a late day was converted to their
defense。 Perhaps he had not fully understood the nature of graft until he
was in a position to view it from the outside。 After all； he was excusable
in seeking to maintain the dignity of his office； but he had departed from
one of the fundamental rules of the race； namely： 〃Let no material gain be
the motive or reward of public duty。〃 He had wounded the ideals of his
people beyond forgiveness； and he suffered the penalty； yet his courage
was not diminished by the mistakes of his past。 Like the Sioux chief
Little Crow； he was called 〃the betrayer of his people〃； and like him he
made a desperate effort to regain lost prestige； and turned savagely against
the original betrayers of his confidence； the agents and Indian traders。
When the Sioux finally broke out in 1862； the first thought of the local
politicians was to humiliate Hole…in…the…Day by arresting him and
proclaiming some other 〃head chief〃 in his stead。 In so doing they
almost forced the Ojibways to fight under his leadership。 The chief had
no thought of alliance with the Sioux； and was wholly unaware of the
proposed action of the military on pretense of such a conspiracy on his
part。 He was on his way to the agency in his own carriage when a runner
warned him of his danger。 He thereupon jumped down and instructed the
driver to proceed。 His coachman was arrested by a file of soldiers； who
when they discovered their mistake went to his residence in search of him；
but meanwhile he had sent runners in every direction to notify his warriors；
and had moved his family across the Mississippi。 When the military
reached the river bank he was still in sight； and the lieutenant called upon
him to surrender。 When he refused； the soldiers were ordered to fire
upon him； but he replied with his own rifle； and with a whoop disappeared
among the pine groves。
106
… Page 107…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
It was remarkable how the whole tribe now rallied to the call of Hole…
in…the…Day。 He allowed no depredations to the young men under his
leadership； but camped openly near the agency and awaited an explanation。
Presently Judge Cooper of St。 Paul； a personal friend of the chief；
appeared； and later on the Assistant Secretary of the Interior； accompanied
by Mr。 Nicolay； private secretary of President Lincoln。 Apparently that
great humanitarian President saw the whole injustice of the proceeding
against a loyal nation； and the difficulty was at an end。
Through the treaties of 1864； 1867； and 1868 was accomplished the
final destiny of the Mississippi River Ojibways。 Hole…in…the…Day was
against their removal to what is now White Earth reservation； but he was
defeated in this and realized that the new turn of events meant the
downfall of his race。 He declared that he would never go on the new
reservation； and he kept his word。 He remained on one of his land grants
near Crow Wing。 As the other chiefs assumed more power； the old
feeling of suspicion and hatred became stronger； especially among the
Pillager and Red Lake bands。 One day he was waylaid and shot by a
party of these disaffected Indians。 He uttered a whoop and fell dead from
his buggy。
Thus died one of the most brilliant chiefs of the Northwest； who never
defended his birthright by force of arms； although almost compelled to do
so。 He succeeded in diplomacy so long as he was the recognized head of
his people。 Since we have not passed over his weaknesses； he should be
given credit for much insight in causing the article prohibiting the
introduction of liquor into the Indian country to be inserted into the treaty
of 1858。 I think it was in 1910 that this forgotten provision was
discovered and again enforced over a large expanse of territory occupied
by whites； it being found that the provision had never been repealed。
Although he left many children； none seem to have made their mark；
yet it may be that in one of his descendants that undaunted spirit will rise
again。
107